Optimising Winter oilseed rape management in a mild climate

Post summary

The sustainability of current crop production practices in Ireland is challenged by the lack of rotation resulting in higher production costs, lower profit margins and increasing monoculture problems. There is a need to increase the area of broad-acre break crops such as winter oilseed rape (WOSR). A key aim of the DAFM funded Opti-BC project is to develop an understanding of the factors impacting on the performance of OSR crops in Ireland and to develop crop management practices that will improve performance in our climate. Specifically for this PhD work programme, the aim of the work will be to: 1) establish the range of WOSR crop performance on Irish farms and to determine the factors which may be associated with any variability measured and; 2) to determine the impact of post-winter crop management strategies on crop growth, development and yield of crops of varying biomass levels.
This PhD fellowship will help to underpin future OSR production by providing a better understanding of the factors which impact on crop performance in Irish conditions and by determining optimum management strategies for crops which present differently post winter, due to a combination of variation in weather, sowing date and defoliation by bird feeding.